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Harmison plays down chances

Harmison plays down chances

04/07/2009 1:00 PM

Paceman Steve Harmison is not expecting a call-up from England selectors despite rattling the Australian line-up in the four-day tour match in Worcester.

Harmison, a member of England's triumphant 2005 side, has match-figures of 6-116 in an excellent trial ahead of the first Test starting on Wednesday.

But he does not believe it will result in his name being read out on Sunday when the England Test squad is announced.

"I don't think they will pick me, it seems they are going to play two spinners," he said.

"To pick me, I just don't fit in. In that case I go back to Durham and try to get in for Lord's."

"If I don't get in for Lord's I'll try to get in whenever they need me. They know I'm fit, they know I'm back and cause Australia problems."

"They know what I'm about. It's up to them if they want to pick me. If they don't pick me, they are winning the series."

Harmison has twice dismissed opener Phillip Hughes in this match, each time with short-pitch deliveries, and also claimed the prized scalp of Ricky Ponting on Friday.

But Harmison warned England against getting carried away with bowling short balls to Hughes as the 20-year-old would no doubt spend the next week correcting the perceived weakness in his game.

"He's not a mug, he's a good player," Harmison said.

"There's a difference between me bowling short balls and other people bowling short balls because the lengths do vary."

Harmison said he believed Australia would derive more benefit from its game with the Lions, England's second XI, than England would from its clash with county team Warwickshire.

"I would say Australia has been in a Test match this week apart from the wicket because the wicket was poor," he said.

"And the bowlers have had to work hard until Brett (Lee) got reverse swing they've had to work hard to get anything out of our batters."

"I imagine they've had a tough week. I will imagine they'll go into Cardiff thinking they've been tested here and they won't have to raise their game as much as probably England will have to going into that first Test."

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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